Kansas City Council Business Session: Building Code and Budget Forecast - October 22, 2026

The Kansas City, Missouri City Council convened on October 22, 2026, for a business session. Council members approved the October 8 business session minutes, heard staff recommendations on the 2024 building code adoption process under Ordinance 260137, and received the citywide business plan and five-year forecast. The meeting then moved toward legislative session.

Consent Calendar

• Approved, by unanimous voice vote, the minutes of the October 8, 2026 business session.

Building Code Process and Recommendations (Ordinance 260137)

• City staff, including ACM Binkley, Deputy Director Uraimana Pali, and Deputy Building Official Heath Perkins, presented on Ordinance 260137, adopted in February 2026, which directed City Planning and Development to review the 2024 building code package with robust public engagement and return recommendations within nine months.
• Staff reviewed 13 jurisdictions around Kansas City; most are currently on 2012 or 2018 codes and moving toward 2024, with many deferring or amending energy code provisions.
• Engagement included three initial public meetings at NNI, Mohat Center, and South Patrol, outreach through the Neighborhoods Department, meetings with HBA, AGC, and other agencies, and a final meeting at NNI where proposed amendments were shared.
• Staff recommended adopting the 2024 code with amendments to support housing affordability and attainability, including options for houses smaller than 2,500 square feet, energy code modifications, and pre-adoption of the 2027 single-stair, four-story apartment provisions.

Energy-specific recommendations:

• On the prescriptive energy path, staff proposed reducing wall insulation to R15 to allow conventional insulation in standard stud walls; an R19 and foam option could avoid blower door testing.
• Added an exception for homes under 2,500 square feet of conditioned space, allowing a straight HERS score of 70 or less, consistent with Kansas state law for homes under 2,500 square feet and previous city amendments.
• Maximum Energy Rating Index set at HERS 70 for homes under 2,500 square feet and 63 for homes over 2,500 square feet, up from 54 in the 2024 code; lower scores are more efficient but costlier to build.
• An electrical amendment would eliminate kitchen island outlet requirements for small homes to reduce costs.

Commercial and trade recommendations:

• Introduce a commercial contractor license, a requirement staff said Kansas City is the only big city in the metro lacking.
• Clarify exterior wall projection definitions, create a process for common walls on shared properties, and adopt 2027 IBC exit requirements allowing four-story single-stair apartment buildings instead of three.
• Switch plumbing code from the Uniform Plumbing Code toward the International Plumbing Code using IPC/UPC combination amendments.
• Modify International Mechanical Code sections to align with state boiler law, adding an exception for state compliance; amend commercial electrical code for kitchen outlet clarity.
• No council questions were recorded on this item.

Citywide Business Plan and Five-Year Forecast

• Finance Director Bretton Siverley and Deputy Director Teresa Danielson presented the citywide business plan, required by charter to be adopted by November 1, and the five-year forecast.
• The forecast includes Resolution 26086, adopted earlier that week, limiting debt service paid for public safety sales tax initiatives and saving about $5 million.
• The general fund operating deficit is projected at $140.8 million for FY28, including $21 million in support for the public mass transportation fund, primarily with one-time sources, and $6.4 million for the street maintenance fund, maintaining an additional $6 million per year for resurfacing.

Revenue assumptions:

• FY26 earnings tax collections came in below budget, revising FY27 estimates down by an estimated $10 million; a 3% growth rate is projected over the forecast.
• Local use tax revenue includes a $12.7 million refund to the state in FY27 for prior-year exempt purchases, with 6.4% moderate growth projected.
• FY27 service charges include $14 million in new Medicaid reimbursement for ground emergency medical transportation (GEMT).

Expenditure assumptions:

• Wages assumed at 3% annually; FY28 includes a 27th pay period for all except police at an estimated $9 million cost.
• Pension costs forecast at 12.5%; health care at 5.5% in FY28 and 5.25% thereafter.
• Personnel costs make up 70% of general fund expenditures.
• Transfers to special revenue funds rise from $12.1 million to $67.6 million by FY32 because those funds face inflationary pressure and rely on the general fund.
• FY26 is the first operating deficit since FY21.
• Fund balance is projected at 24.7% in FY27 against the 25% target, then below target from FY28 through FY32.

Councilman Duncan asked about the story behind the revenue changes. The finance director explained that earnings tax collections were slightly below estimates, use tax was reduced by a state refund plus an artificially inflated prior-year base, and GEMT reimbursement was an additional positive: the state now allows Medicaid managed-care reimbursement, adding $14 million to the existing roughly $8 million GEMT revenue.

Discussion of Ordinances, Resolutions, and Communications

• The final agenda item was discussion of ordinances, resolutions, and communications for floor introduction. The mayor stated the hearing would stand adjourned to legislative session; a brief exchange indicated time constraints, with one speaker noting 20 minutes remained.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the October 8, 2026 business session minutes unanimously.
• Received and discussed the building code recommendations and five-year forecast; no formal vote was recorded on either presentation.
• The business plan and forecast will guide the submitted budget due in February 2027.
• The meeting moved to adjourn to legislative session after the final agenda item was announced.